Sussex Academy students earn prizes in youth forum

After competing against peers from nine other high schools at the 2025 Soroptimist Youth Forum, two Sussex Academy students earned prizes for their public speaking proficiency.

Sussex Academy students Katya Geyer, Oliver Graves, Annabelle Hudson, Josue Laurore, Shannon Scudder, Grace Thomas and Duncan Winger all entered this year’s contest, held at Seaford City Hall.

The theme of the public speaking contest was Student Voices: Your Opinions Matter, and it focused on four areas: mental health, education, time management and media literacy, said Youth Forum Committee representative Sarah R. White.

“The forum is a panel discussion, not a debate,” White said. “A moderator asks a question from each focus area, and students participating have the opportunity to respond to all or some of the questions. The responses are timed.”

Participants were judged on the originality of ideas and solutions offered, persuasiveness without taking over the group, ability to maintain objectivity and limit comments to the assigned topic, clarity of thought and ability to summarize findings, ability to perceive and solve problems, and congeniality with peers, White said.

When the judging was concluded, Duncan Winger was announced as the second-place winner, earning a $500 prize, and Katya Geyer tied for third place, earning $400.